A 20-year-old man faces up to 10 years in prison for pawning several items stolen from around 100 vehicles in James City County.
Christian Bearisto pleaded guilty Monday to a felony count of receiving stolen property with intent to sell, which was downgraded from a grand larceny charge.
Williamsburg-James City Circuit Court Judge Michael McGinty agreed to wait to officially accept Bearisto’s guilty plea until his sentencing hearing in May, when his attorney will ask McGinty to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor that carries a lesser sentence.
The four other suspects — David Hartman, Aaron Scott Lee, Austin Peterson and Terrence Terrell White — are accused of breaking into vehicles in several James City County neighborhoods between August and September and stealing jewelry, a watch, cash, a gun, a camera and other items from the cars, several of which were unlocked, according to police.
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Cathy Black said the four other suspects would give the stolen items to Bearisto, who would pawn them at various pawn shops.
“He indicated that the others had put him up to that,” Black said at Bearisto’s plea hearing Monday, adding he knew the items were stolen.
As part of the plea deal, Bearisto agrees to pay any restitution to the victims of the thefts. The restitution amount and Bearisto’s sentence will be determined during a hearing at 9 a.m. May 22 in Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court.
Hartman, who is charged with felony grand larceny, and White, who is facing a felony firearm larceny charge, are scheduled to appear in Williamsburg-James City County Circuit Court for a plea hearing at 1 p.m. June 5 and 6, respectively.
Lee, who is charged with felony grand larceny and felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and will have a trial at 9 a.m. April 3.
Peterson is scheduled for a trial at 9 a.m. April 1 for two felony counts of grand larceny.
Related Coverage:
- Two Men Suspected in String of JCC Car Break-ins to Face Grand Jury
- Three of Five Men Suspected in String of Summer JCC Car Break-ins to Face Grand Jury
- UPDATE: Fifth Man Arrested in Car Break-ins Allegedly Fired Shots With Stolen Gun
- Court Documents: Suspects Took Photos of Guns Stolen From Vehicles, Pawned Jewelry
- JCC Police Arrest Four in Connection With Series of Vehicle Break-Ins
- JCC Police Urge Citizens to Lock Cars After Thefts From Vehicles Continue
- James City County Police: String of Vehicle Break-Ins Likely Related
- James City County Report Series of Vehicle Break-ins Since Sept. 1.
- JCC Police: Eight Vehicle Break-ins Reported in Toano
- JCC Police Investigate After 14 Vehicles Rummaged Through in Scott’s Pond
